Automatic fire-producing device



' 1,627,923 May 2 L. A. NEVIERE AUTOMATIC FIRE PRODUCING DEVICE FiledJune 22, 1923 Patented May 10, 1927. r

' PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES LOUIS AUGUST]! NEVIEBE, F CHATEL U DE MERE, NEAR ABTAIHES,FRANCE.

AUTQMATIC FIBE-PRODUCIN G DEVICE.

Application filed June 22, 1923, Serial No. 647,010, and in Belgium July5, 1922.

This invention relates to automatic ignition and it refers moreparticularly, although not exclusively to automatic lighters.

The principal object of this invention is to make such apparatus moreconvenient to use and more eflicient. Another ob'ect is to so constructthe apparatus so that t e parts can be readily assembled and separated.

A device constructed according to the invention has hollow members, aninflammable body, such for instance as a wick soaked in petrol and akindling element, such for instance as a striker co-operating with aflint composed of a cerium iron alloy intended ll to produce sparks forigniting the wick or the like. The essential feature of the inventionconsists in so constructing and arranging the hollow members that theycan slide relatively to one another. When the hollow bodies or membersare slid in a determined direction with respect to each other, ignitionof the wick is produced, and a number of openin are then so located withrespect to each at er thatthe flame is exposed.

The invention also includes, in addition to the principal constructionalfeature just mentioned, certain other features which arepreferably usedat the same time and which will be more fully explained hereafter.

In order that the invention may be more clearlyunderstood, it will nowbe describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, but it is to beunderstood that the specification and drawings are given merely by we ofexample,

ig. 1 shows a side elevation of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3+3 of Fig.

2, certain parts thereof being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is-an elevation showing the ignition device.

Fi 5 is a. perspective view of one of the mem ers of the ignitiondevice.

Fi 6 shows a different form of cover mem r.

The drawings illustrate the application of the invention to an automaticpocket lighter of the class comprising a reservoir a for petrol, with awick b dipping into the same, and an ignition member 0 which may be madeof a cerium iron alloy. The device has a striker d for producing sparksby friction against the said stone.

The device comprises a reservoir a shaped like ajlatbox. The reservoir ahas a top wall and the side walls of the said reservoir a extend abovethe top wall and are connected by a supplemental top wall. Theprojecting portions of the side walls of the reservoir have openings aadjacent the top of the wick b, and the supplemental top wall of thereservoir is also open adjacent the openings a. This box-like memberjust descrglbed is adapted to beintroduced into and ide within a cover 0of corresponding shape having a top wall which is provided 1 with anopening e" of shape similar to the opening a". The filling of thereservoir is elfected by unscrewing a plug or stopper 7' which isconnected to the wall of the reservoir opposite to that from which thewick 6 projects. The wick fits within a small tube 6 pierced withlateral holes. The cerium iron member 0 is located within the tube 0*which has an openin in the same wall and isclosed at the end y athreaded plug is. The wall of the cover corresponding to the wall of thereservoir provided with the plugs j and is is furnished with slots whichpermit the said plugs to pass during the operation of the parts of theapparatus. The plugs are adapted to contact with the ends of the slotsand to serve as stops for limiting the positions of the parts a and einthe operative and inoperative positions of the device The ignition meansfor the wick comprise a striker 41 mounted on spindle d which alsocarries rollers Z having flanges m. The entire device is adapted torotate on the spindle (P. n are pairs of pins of any suitable numberarranged opposite one another and located on the outsides of the rollersand arranged concentrically with respect to the axis. A device showndetached at F g. 5, is also provided comprising a portion 0 by means ofwhich the device can be attached to the inner surface of the coveroutsidethe striker. This device has another portion consisting of tworesilient branches 0 terminating in hooks 0 The arrangement is such thatwhen the reservo1r a is pushed for a certain distance into the cover 6,at the de- 1 sired moment for igniting the wick b, one

of the pairs of pins n engage the hooks the contact of the ignitiondevice 0 withthe I striker, thus causing ignition of the wick in theposition shown in Fig. 3. On the otherhandwhen the device returns to theinoperative position, the pins n of the next pair are at'the'same heightas the first pins when they were engaged by the hooks 0 whilst therollers Z force .the hooks to slide over their peripheries, so that onreturning to the inoperative position, the said hooks pass alcove thepins of the next pair and come back to their position of rest ready toengage the new pins at the next operation. The threaded end of plug 70engages a spring which forces the pyrophoric member 0 against thestriker (l.

\Vith the foregoing constructions an automatic ignition device isprovided which fuliils all the practical requirements. As previouslystated, the invention is not limited inany way to the particular methodsof application or to the constructional de tails which have beendescribed above. On the contrary, all modifications are included, amonst which the following may be mentione In order to facilitate thecombustlon of the fluid with which the wick is saturated,

openings a and e may be provided in the reservoir section and the coversection of the device and these openings become aligned when the deviceis pushed into the position shown in Fig. 3.

In some instances the member which is 1ntended to slide relatively tothe cover e, instead of being made in a single piece, as has been setforth in the earlier portion of the descripton, may be formed of thereservoir proper and by a sort of box into which the reservoir canslide, and which can itself slide in the, cover.

As shown in Fig. 6, the cover is provided with a concave front portion 6so that the user can place his thumb against the corresponding portionof the reservoir member a while the remainder of the hand of the usercan hold the rear portion e of the cover. This makes the use of thedevice very convenient. A blade spring 7 tends to keep the parts in therelative position shown in Fig. 1, and this spring is mounted upon a pinf which is suitably connected to the cover e.

In some instances the casing, that is the cover e of the devicemayserve' as the outer portion or holder for various articles, forinstance scissors, nail files, tooth picks, etc., all of which articlescan if so'des'ired be hinged to the said cover and be adapted toturn'into recesses in the latter. They would bebrought into the positionfor use in the same manner as the blade of a knife, the body of thedevice serving as a handle for the said article.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and. in what manner the same is to be performed, I declarethat what I claim is:-

1. in a lighter, the combination of a reservoir member 'having anenclosed portion adapted to contain an inflammable liquid and alsohaving a projecting portion beyond said enclosed poi-lion, a covermember slidably mounted on said reservoir, a wick located in saidenclosed portion and having its end projecting into said projectingportion, ignition means mounted on said reservoir adjacent saidprojecting end, said ignition means being adapted to be actuated whensaid cover member and reservoir member are moved relatively to eachother in one direction, spring means adapted to actuate said covermember and reservoir member in the opposite direction, one of saidmembers having a perforation and the other of said 'members having alongitudinal opening,

said perforation and opening being adapted to register during themovement of said members against the force of said spring so as toinsure acontinuous and substantially uniform air supply to said wick.

2. A lighter comprising a reservoir adapted to contain an inflammableliquid, a wick located in said reservoir and projecting therefrom, acover movably connected to said reservoir, spring means adapted to urgesaid cover to a predetermined position with respect to said reservoir, apyrophoric member 'mounted on said reservior adjacent to said wick, anignition device revolubly mounted on a spindle connected to saidreservoir and contacting with said pyrophoric device, said ignitiondevice having lateral pins thereon, and movable'hook means adapted toengage said pins when the cover is moved relatively to said reservoir inone direction,-so that said ignition device will be actuated, andturnable means located ber mounted on said reservoir adjacent tosaidwick, an ignition device revolubly mounted on a spindle connected tosaid reservoir and contacting with said pyrophoric device, roller meansmounted on said spindle, said ignition device having lateral pinsthereon, and movable hook means adapted to engage said pins when thecover is Inpved relatively cover in one direction, so thatvsaidlignition device will be actuated, said hook means being adapted toride on said roller means when ed to contain an inflammable liquid, awick located in said reservoir and projecting therefrom, a cover movablyconnected to said reservoir, spring means adapted to urge said cover toa predetermined position with respect to said reservoir, a pyophoricmember mounted on said reservoir adjacent to said wick, an ignitiondevice revolubly mounted on a spindle connected to said reserv voir andcontacting with said pyrophoric device, roller means mounted on saidspindle,

said ignition device having lateral pins 20 thereon, and movablehookmeans adapted to e e said pins when the cover is moved relative y tosaid cover in one direction, so that said ignition device will beactuated, said hook means being adapted to ride on said roller meanswhen the cover is moved in the opposite direction so that the ignitiondevice will be permitted to remain stationary and circular flanges onthe sides of said roller means and acting asguiding means so for saidhook means. i

5. A device according to claim 1 in which the front of the cover memberis provided with an arcuate depression. y

In testimony whereof I-hereunto aflixmy a; signature.

LOUIS AUGUSTE I

